Lastest Intel'

Violence at University of Khartoum in Sudan continues, Chancellor resigns

KHARTOUM 12 May

The Chancellor of the University of Khartoum has resigned in protest against the government's non-cooperation in containing the violence between students at the campuses. The teaching staff has requested a temporary closure of the University. Students will boycott the coming exams.

The chairman of the University’s Initiative Committee, Dr Abdel Rahim Karar announced on Sunday that the Chancellor Prof Siddig Hayati has offered his resignation last week in protest against continuing assaults on activist students at the hands of militant students backed by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), and the silence of the government.

The University’s teaching staff has accused militant Islamists among the students of launching attacks at the campus, and terrorising the other students. The staff said that the police have admitted their incapability of stopping the militants. The lecturers have therefore requested the Council of Deans to close all compounds and faculties until the crisis is resolved.

Member of the Students’ Committee, Awad Abdeen, told Radio Dabanga that the students will boycott the examinations of June, because many courses have not been completed due to the suspension of lectures for some weeks in March and April, and some students were injured in the assaults.

Clashes between students and militants have intensified the last weeks. The militants are reacting violently to the students’ demands for a thorough investigation into the killing of a Darfuri student during a peaceful demonstration at the University of Khartoum's main campus on 11 March, and the removal of security forces stationed at the university gates and the campus.

File photo: University of Khartoum students demonstrating on 11 March 2014 (Radio Dabanga)